COVID-19 Positive Care Pathways refer to the clinical guidance and support for assessing and managing people who test positive to COVID-19.
With a significant proportion of western Victoria’s population now having received multiple doses of the COVID vaccines, the severity of the disease in people who test positive is expected to decrease with less requirement for people in our region to be treated in hospital.
Increasingly, the focus for care pathways is to treat COVID positive patients from their homes using remote patient monitoring and telehealth services.
National COVID-19 care guidelines
The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce has published evidence-based clinical guidelines to support health care professionals in caring for people with COVID-19.
The information also includes clinical flowcharts, evidence they are currently reviewing, and recommendations for preventing infection in health care workers.
View the Caring for People with COVID-19 Guidelines
COVID-19 care pathways in western Victoria
A transition process to a new model of COVID-19 care across Victoria began on 1 August 2022. This transition process will be complete by 1 October, 2022. Previously, local COVID-19 care pathways were overseen by western Victoria’s public health units and local health services.
Under the new model, anyone in Victoria with a positive COVID-19 test result – via a PCR test and/or Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) will be directed to to the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080. This helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Based on National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Guidelines, patients will then be triaged to determine the potential severity of their illness and whether they are potentially eligible for antiviral treatments. If a patient is considered at higher risk of developing severe disease or higher risk of getting unwell, contact will be made with the patient’s nominated GP via secure messaging including whether they may eligible for antiviral treatments. Healthdirect will also engage with alternative practices, including GP Respiratory Clinics (GPRCs), for patients that do not have a regular GP. Healthdirect will send an SMS to the patient advising them that their GP and/or General Practice Respiratory Clinics has been notified.
For more details on the process, please refer to information on the Healthdirect’s Victorian model of care page.
Clinical training and resources
Project ECHO COVID-19
Project ECHO COVID-19 program has included discussions on Understanding COVID positive Care Pathways. Access podcasts and videos of the most recent sessions from the Project ECHO COVID-19 page
Safer Care Victoria COVID-19 + Pathways Learning Network
Safer Care Victoria and the Victorian Agency for Health Information have established a learning network of healthcare workers, leaders and consumers to share experiences and support the provision of care to people with COVID-19 in their homes. Access the network
RACGP resources
Caring for children with COVID-19
Please note, the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce clinical guidelines also cover recommendations specific to the care of children and adolescents with COVID-19.
Other resources:
- HealthPathways COVID-19 Child Assessment and Management
- The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne Clinical Practice Guidelines – COVID-19
Information for patients
- Health Direct | COVID-19 Symptom Checker
- Health Direct | Managing COVID at home
- Your COVID Checklist – What to do if you test positive to COVID
- What to expect when you have COVID-19 (other languages)
- Managing mild COVID-19 at home with assistance from your GP
- Managing common post-COVID-19 symptoms at home
Social and financial support
National, Victoria-wide and localised support services are available for western Victoria residents with COVID-19 and/or who are required to isolate or go into quarantine.
- Services Australia – If you need payment
- Financial and other support for COVID-19
- Isolation and quarantine – extra help and support
- Tips for managing isolation
- Western District Health Service Helping Hands Program
- Ballarat Community Health Social Connections Program
- City of Greater Geelong – Frequently asked questions relating to physical and mental health support during the Coronavirus situation.
- Social Connections – Ballarat Community Health and Grampians Community Health
- AskIzzy